Saturday, February 11, 2012

10 Suspected Zetas Gunmen Arrested in Monterrey

Mexican authorities announced the arrest in the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon
of 10 reputed Los Zetas drug cartel henchmen suspected in nearly 40
murders.

Their alleged victims include nine people murdered on Jan. 26 in
downtown Monterrey and two others slain on that metropolis’ north side, Nuevo
Leon Security Council spokesman Jorge Domene said in a joint press conference
Thursday with state Attorney General Adrian de la Garza.

Eight of the
victims are believed to have been killed because they “were inside the La
Eternidad bar consuming drugs (bought) from the rival group (Gulf cartel),”
Domene said.

The suspects detained in recent days in several operations
confessed to more than two dozen other murders, all related to the Zetas’ turf
war with the Gulf mob for control of the local drug trade in Monterrey, he
added.

“The leader of the gang is Jesus Alejandro Solorio Guel, alias ‘el
Alex,’ 34, who confessed to being in charge of drug sales in downtown Monterrey
and to receiving payment of 4,000 pesos (some $315) a week,” Domene
said.

The rest of the reputed henchmen received an average of 12,000
pesos (some $950) a month from Los Zetas.

Authorities also seized a
rifle, two handguns, four vehicles, drugs, communications gear, an image of the
Holy Death sect and notebooks used to keep track of the illicit
sales.

Monterrey, which is home to many of Mexico’s industrial giants,
had long seemed immune to the drug war but since early 2010 has been the scene
of a brutal turf struggle pitting the Gulf cartel against former allies Los
Zetas.

The Los Zetas gang has been blamed for several massacres in
recent years, including an arson attack on a casino in Monterrey last August
that killed 52 gamblers and employees trapped inside, most of whom died of smoke
inhalation.